Nokia 9.2 PureView launch delayed to late 2020, rumoured to use Snapdragon 865 SoC

Nokia 9 PureView successor was previously expected to launch at MWC 2020 and tipped to be called Nokia 9.1 PureView. However, it seems HMD Global is planning to delay its launch to late 2020 and this may push the company to rename the flagship to Nokia 9.2 PureView instead. Tipster Nokia Anew has tweeted about the delay in the launch of the Nokia 9 PureView successor, saying that HMD Global is doing this in order to equip the device with Qualcomm’s latest generation flagship processor, the Snapdragon 865. However, it is important to note that there are no further information to back up this claim, meaning that the actual launch date and name of the flagship could differ.

Nokia launched the Nokia 9 PureView with a unique penta-camera setup at the rear at MWC in February 2019. At this time, flagship Android phones started launching with the Snapdragon 855 inside, but the Nokia 9 PureView stuck to the older generation Snapdragon 845, thereby making its overall performance inferior to other flagship smartphones in 2019. Previous rumours had suggested that Nokia would launch a follow up to the flagship device by introducing a Snapdragon 855-powered Nokia 9.1 PureView in 2019 itself. However, that did not happen.

The announcement of Nokia 9.2 is likely to be delayed until the autumn due to the replacement of the processor on the Snapdragon 865.#Nokia9 #NokiaMobile #HMD #Nokia2020 pic.twitter.com/DbAFdMFi6v

— Nokia anew (@nokia_anew) December 30, 2019

In order for HMD to compete against premium smartphone OEMs like Samsung, OnePlus and Apple, the company could delay the launch of its 2020 flagship Nokia phone in order to use the latest flagship Snapdragon 865 SoC. But the delay could also hurt HMD as most anticipated flagship Android phones are expected to launch in the first half of 2020, starting with the Galaxy S11/ S20 in February and OnePlus 8 series soon after.

Despite extensive anticipation, the Nokia 9 PureView failed to live up to the expectations because of lacklustre imaging performance and a faltering firmware. With the follow up, Nokia will hope that it avoids such errors, and presents the apparent Nokia 9.2 PureView as a thoroughbred that keeps up with the industry in terms of overall performance as well.

In a follow-up to the previous tweet, here’s the full top:

1. Nokia 7.2
2. Nokia 9 PureView
3. Nokia 6.2
4. Nokia 7.1
5. Nokia 2.2
6. Nokia 4.2@NokiaMobile #HMD #NokiaMobile #Nokia

— Nokia anew (@nokia_anew) December 30, 2019

A further tweet by Nokia anew also claimed that HMD Global’s six most popular phones of 2019 by shipment volumes were Nokia 7.2, Nokia 9 PureView, Nokia 6.2, Nokia 7.1, Nokia 2.2 and Nokia 4.2. However, yet again, there are no further reports or official information on this, so clarity on this list’s credibility remains to be established. Going forward, it will be interesting to see what HMD Global has in store for the Nokia brand’s future in 2020. Given that the brand has typically made announcements at the Mobile World Congress, more information on HMD Global’s 2020 plans may be revealed at the upcoming tech confluence in Barcelona, in February 2020.